On April 26, 2019, the School of Economics and Management at Khazar University hosted a Student Conference entitled “Tourism and Sustainable Development”. The conference was opened by Kamran Behbudov, the teacher of the Economics and Management Department. Associate Professor Irada Khalilova, the Rector of the University, in her opening statement welcomed the Conference participants and wished success to the Conference. Following that, Associate Professor Jeyhun Mammadov, the Dean of the School of Economics and Management and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Conference, delivered talk about the economic essence of tourism and its role in socio-economic development of Azerbaijan, the importance of the Conference and the benefits of sharing ideas and experiences among the students. Ahmed Gurbanov, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association, briefed the students about the projects implemented by the organization he represents with the youth in Azerbaijan and invited young people to get involved in the tourism activities. Head of the Travel Agency Tarlan Guliyev made a presentation on “Basics of Tourism Activity” and outlined the main trends in tourism for young people. Gahraman Yusupov, the teacher of the Economics and Management Department, highlighted the importance of the Conference and also noted that the students presented 72 articles to the Conference. Muzaffar Agakerimov, the Advisor to the Azerbaijan Tourism Association, who participated in the Conference as an honorary guest, indicated that organizing such kind of Conference will lead to further increase in interest in tourism, to the tourism and hospitality management course, taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels at Khazar University, which has an exceptional role in raising the attention to the tourism field, and to the formation and development of human capital in tourism.

The conference continued with presentations and interesting discussions led by students. Along with the students majoring in tourism and hospitality management, the Conference was attended by the students studying finance, accounting, management, marketing and economics from Khazar University, as well as students from Azerbaijan State Economic University, Tourism and Management University, ADA University and Azerbaijan University.